Myself and my family went to the Malton Food Festival on Saturday and found it great.

It was diverse, with varied stallholders and how well informed, helpful and friendly they all were, except one. While my wife and daughter were watching a cookery demonstration, my son and I went for a stroll and, because we were peckish, we went for a hamburger at one of the butchers. The burger was extremely tasty, however it was almost thrown at us by a man who certainly required a few people skills.

Because it was drizzling slightly, we took shelter under their canopy in front of their shop window to eat our tasty burgers and I was horrified to see a lady come out of the shop with new signs for what they were selling, with higher prices. I overheard her saying, “put these up there’s a good crowd around”. I understand businesses need to make a profit but I do not think this an ethos the Malton Food Festival would be comfortable with.

I understand the organisers may not have control over what the businesses do, but they are putting in a great effort in establishing the town as a place to come for food and with that comes commerce, especially if people to come to our region time and again not making a dirty fast buck.

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